Lynne Yelich

[Foreign Affairs, March 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, Canada does continue to call for an immediate and full release of Mr. Fahmy. We also have a travel document ready when Mr. Fahmy is able to travel.

[Foreign Affairs, March 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, when Mr. Fahmy is able to travel, we have a travel document ready.

[Foreign Affairs, February 24th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, Mr. Fahmy is receiving consular services, so in fact we are ensuring his well-being.

I think that instead of writing ill-informed letters to the editor, the member should take the time to understand that our government is very clear at all levels. As the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Consular, I have assured this House that our government will continue to raise the case. Canada advocates for the same treatment of Mr. Fahmy as other foreign nationals have received.

[Foreign Affairs, February 23rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, we are concerned about the loss of dignity and human rights and we are calling for this to be respected, keeping in mind this person is not Canadian and we can only do what we can do.

[Foreign Affairs, February 23rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the Canadian government, including myself, the former minister of foreign affairs, and the Prime Minister, has been raising the case with Egyptian officials at the highest level for some time. Canada advocates for the same treatment of Mr. Fahmy as other foreign nationals have received.

We continue to call for his immediate and full release. The prospect for Mr. Fahmy to continue to stand trial is unacceptable, but our officials are providing consular assistance to Mr. Fahmy, and we are ensuring his well-being.

[Foreign Affairs, February 23rd, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, Canada continues to call for the immediate and full release of Mohamed Fahmy. The prospect of Mr. Fahmy continuing to stand trial is unacceptable.

Canada advocates for the same treatment of Mr. Fahmy that other foreign nationals have received. I, the former minister of foreign affairs, and the Prime Minister have been raising this case with Egyptian officials at the highest level for some time. We will continue to do so. Our officials are providing consular assistance to Mr. Fahmy to ensure his well-being.

[Public Safety, February 19th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, the government is always concerned when Canadians are in trouble beyond our borders. Our consular services operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, through a network of more than 260 offices in over 150 countries. We are committed to providing the best possible consular assistance in every region of the world.

[Foreign Affairs, January 27th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, Canada does consider the punishment of Mr. Badawi to be a violation of human dignity, and we continue to call for clemency in this case.

Mr. Badawi is not a Canadian citizen, but we continue to make our position known, both publicly and through diplomatic channels, including the Minister of Foreign Affairs recently raising this issue with Prince Turki Al-Faisal. He also made representations to Saudi Arabia's ambassador in Ottawa, and the ambassador in Riyadh has met with Saudi officials.

[Questions on the Order Paper, January 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, in processing parliamentary returns, the government applies the Privacy Act and the principles set out in the Access to Information Act. Information that constitutes personal information and information that could reasonably be expected to be injurious to the conduct of international affairs is not shared in accordance with the law.

With regard to (a), the Prime Minister of Canada and senior cabinet ministers have raised Mr. Celil’s case with their counterparts.

With regard to (c), the Government of Canada is actively engaged in Mr. Celil’s case. Senior-level officials have raised his case at every opportunity with the goal of ensuring that he is safe and that he is treated fairly and in accordance with local laws and international norms.

With regard to (e), the Government of Canada is very engaged. Senior officials continue to raise Mr. Celil’s case at every opportunity calling upon the Government of China to permit consular access to Mr. Celil. Canadian consular officials continue all efforts to pursue access to Mr. Celil.

With regard to (f), Canada remains deeply concerned at China’s refusal to recognize Mr. Celil’s Canadian citizenship or permit Canadian consular officials to visit him. Canadian officials continue to call upon the Government of China to permit consular access to Mr. Celil. China does not permit visits by the Red Cross to Chinese prisons.

With regard to (g), Canada remains deeply concerned at China’s refusal to recognize Mr. Celil’s Canadian citizenship or permit Canadian consular officials to visit him. Canadian officials continue to call upon the Government of China to permit consular access to Mr. Celil.

[Foreign Affairs, January 26th, 2015]

Mr. Speaker, to expand on this, the Minister of Foreign Affairs recently raised Mr. Badawi's case directly with Prince Turki Al-Faisal. Canada also made representations to Saudi Arabia's ambassador in Ottawa. Canada's ambassador in Riyadh has met with senior Saudi officials about the case, seeking further meetings. Canada does consider the punishment to be a violation of human dignity. We continue to promote and protect human rights as an integral part of our Canadian foreign—